The Bears could hit free agency with about $60 million in cap space and the chance to add talent or in the case of Jaylon Johnson, retain one of their own free agents.
The Bears have the chance to bolster a team that still lacks talent well in advance of the draft.
Even if the Bears spent nearly $100 million of their available cash, free agency will still be a valuable asset for them in 2019.
Prior to the season, general manager Ryan Poles calculated that he had acquired between 75 and 80 percent of the talent required to put the team in a winning position. The criteria for success when he was hired were the ability to “take the North and not give it back.”
Therefore, there is still work to be done even after a few years of effort. To what extent?
“I want to go through the tape from the whole year and get with my front office on that, but it’s getting smaller, which is good,” he stated.
Luckily for Poles, funding is once again available to continue tackling their talent shortage, particularly in a few professions. If they take a few major salary hits, it could be anywhere from $36 million to $61 million, which might or might not mean they have additional roster gaps to cover.
There are players who could aid them right away and make their situation better. While not as much as it was the previous year, the funding is still sufficient to close or completely close their skill gap.
“Yeah, you’re flexible, and just like I talked about with the draft, how it’s there, how it might not be there later,” Poles replied. “My people do an excellent job setting up the board that we examine. It is imperative that we investigate every possible situation.
In the end, we’re just going to be completely transparent about it. It’s only convenient to be adaptable so that, in the event that something unexpected occurs or something goes according to plan, you will at least have the financial security necessary to carry out your plans without endangering yourself in the future.”
These five free agents might help the Bears right away if they decide to be that flexible with their money. If that happens, Justin Fields will likely be dealt, and they will have a rookie quarterback in 2024.
They would have the money on hand for at least one more season before anything changed, even if they chose not to trade Fields.
1. CB Jaylon Johnson, Bears
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is the first player the Bears will need to target in free agency.
If their discussions with him result in a franchise tag, don’t be shocked. They may choose to hold Johnson around for a another season while both of the rookies they selected in the summer develop into potential starters. They also like both of the youngsters they selected at the position.
The good buzz from Poles about keeping Johnson and about him signing with the Bears can fade fast. With Johnson off the field due to the franchise tag, they would have even more time to develop Terell Smith and Tyrique Stevenson. $18.8 million is the cost of the franchise.
2. C Aaron Brewer, Titans
A lot relies on their intended use of the run-blocking tactic. The focus on considering coordinator candidates from Sean McVay’s coaching tree may indicate a shift away from the wide zone concept, since McVay has modified his running game to deviate from it.
They will completely abandon the wide zone if they bring in Kliff Kingsbury, a former Cardinals coach, as their coordinator. But the majority of the applicants they have spoken with were connected to McVay during his use of a wider zone. Brewer, who has previously played with guard Nate Davis, would be a perfect fit as their wide zone scheme centre.
Additionally, since centres aren’t often positions where rookies have a lot of quick success, they should pick a centre to develop. Since Cody Whitehair was moved to guard after making the Pro Bowl in 2018, this position has been an issue for the Bears.
They’ve been weak on third- or fourth-and-short in part because of it. They should take a two-pronged strategy to solving it, starting with Brewer, who won’t break the bank and is estimated by PFF to be worth a $20 million deal over the course of three years. According to Sportrac.com, he makes $5.2 million annually.
He’d be a solid bridge starter for a few years while a young centre develops, and they’d be spending only somewhat more than they did for Lucas Patrick. A better option would be Connor Williams, whose estimated annual worth is $13.5 million. Williams’ versatility allows him to fit into any blocking scheme. If they signed him, they would not need to pick a centre. He has and can play any line position. But the free agent centre for the Dolphins tore his ACL, so he might not even be ready for training camp to begin.
3. WR Curtis Samuel, Commanders
As a true slot receiver, nobody could be a better fit for the Bears than Darnell Mooney, if you’re not going to bring him back. For Justin Fields, they have required a player of this calibre. Caleb Williams or him, they can rely on the dependable slot player. Samuel, 27, would provide the team with the interior line complement they need, especially in light of the fact that they are expected to select an X-type wide receiver in the first round.
He’s also been one of DJ Moore’s closest pals since their college days in North Carolina. Despite Washington’s dubious quarterback situation, he has been in the 60-catch zone for the past two years. With this reception total, it appears that the Bears’ second and/or third wide receivers are underperforming this season. PFF estimates the annual cost to be $9 million, although Spotrac.com puts it at $11.5 million. For a costly position, that is a good rate of production.
3. DT Sheldon Rankins, Texans
Rankins had a career-high six sacks last season, but he also concentrated more on getting upfield and applying a pass rush, which has helped him have stronger seasons against the run. Although Justin Jones is a free agent and hasn’t yet reached the level Rankins and certain other free agents have at this position, he did show improvement this past season with the Bears at this position.
Rankins spent some time with the Jets and was a productive player for the Saints in the past. In a three technique role, he might fit this Bear strategy better. If he were paired with Andrew Billings, he wouldn’t have to deal with double teams. These three players have the potential to be signed to play while Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter are still developing. PFF and Spotrac.com estimate Rankins’ market value to be approximately $10 million.
Getting him to leave Houston would be the Bears’ biggest challenge, since that team’s future appears to be quite promising. Grover Stewart of the Colts is another option at the same price, but he hasn’t played the same role as Andrew Billings as the three-technique in the Colts’ defence. Although he has been a very good run defender, the Bears need a veteran with three techniques to rush the pass.
4. S Xavier McKinney, Giants
The Bears need to replace Eddie Jackson because there is no way they’re keeping a player on the payroll who is going to count for $18 million of cap space when he has missed big chunks of consecutive seasons and is in his 30s. He’s a popular player with fans and in the locker room and he definitely will have time left in the league to be successful somewhere, but his contract and lack of production dictate his departure. McKinney has been productive with nine interceptions in four seasons, had a passer rating against of 69.8 this past season when targeted, according to Sportradar, and 72.2 in 2021. He has the adaptability to be a box safety if required but would be better served deep. He would work better interchanging with Jaquan Brisker in this regard.
McKinney has been the type of explosive defensive player on returns that Jackson has been, with five TD returns in his four seasons. He’ll come into the box or stop screens and is a sure tackler. Sportradar tracks Jackson at only one season when he was in single digits for percentage of tackles missed. This season he missed a career-high 17.8%. McKinney hasn’t had any seasons with a double digit average for missed tackles.
PFF has McKinney projected at $8.25 million a year and Spotrac.com at $10.4 million. Either way, it’s about half Jackson’s cost and gives the Bears another experienced secondary player to team with less experienced Brisker. They need someone experienced to play back with Brisker because he still gets burned too many times when he’s isolated in coverage. Brisker allowed nine TD passes this year according to Sportradar.
5. DE Carl Lawson, Jets
With their supply of cash dwindling, Lawson is a good alternative. He had a bad 2023 slowed by injuries and played in six games. He made seven sacks in his last full season. The Bears basically should draft an edge rusher as a replacement for Yannick Ngakoue and sign someone who replaces Rasheem Green in the rush rotation. Lawson always has had a high pass rush win rate and is projected at just $3.15 million a year by PFF, which is about what the Bears got Green for last year. Green made two sacks and two tackles for loss last year and Lawson would have good chance of contributing much more. They have a defensive end in DeMarcus Walker who is good against the run. They need another edge rusher.
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